On 20 November 2018, Education CS Amina Mohammed said the rising number of refugee children is putting extra strain on Kenya’s already overwhelmed education system.
Speaking in Nairobi while leading International Children’s Day celebrations, Amina urged war-torn countries to step up peace-building efforts so the refugee burden can ease. Her remarks came as UNESCO highlighted the difficulty many refugee children face in accessing school when they are not properly integrated into national systems.
The 2019 Global Education Monitoring report said the number of refugee children had increased by 26% and faulted host countries for failing to put in place laws that guarantee inclusion in their education systems. The report also said there had been little progress in integrating refugee learners into national education systems.
It further noted that the number of refugee school-age children had grown by 26% over the past 18 years, even as many countries continue to lack the resources needed to meet the demand for education.
Deng Deng Hoi Yai, from South Sudan’s ministry of education, said radicalization remains one of the major causes of war and terrorism and called on countries to invest more in youth education. UNESCO Assistant Director General Stefania Giannini also challenged Kenya to ensure full inclusion of refugee learners who are still living in refugee camps.
The 2019 GEM report said policy changes are needed if access to education for all is to be achieved under the SDGs.
